Attorney General's News Release

July 31, 2000

Nixon again asks court to enforce political party contribution limits

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon will once again ask the court to reinstate limits on the amount a political party can give to a candidate, following a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling earlier today that prevents enforcement of the law while the matter is on appeal. The Missouri Republican party, in Missouri Republican Party v. Charles Lamb, is challenging the state law limiting contributions by political parties to candidates.

Nixon will file a motion on Tuesday asking the entire 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider today's decision of the three-judge panel.

"The on-again, off-again enforcement of this important law undermines the will of the people and the already established precedent set by the United States Supreme Court upholding Missouri's contribution limits," Nixon said. Nixon successfully defended Missouri law limiting party contributions to candidates in U.S. District Court earlier this month. Nixon also successfully defended Missouri's law limiting individual contributions in the U.S. Supreme Court.

The law limiting party contributions to individual candidates was approved by bipartisan majorities of the Missouri Legislature in 1994, Nixon noted. Those limits contained in Missouri law for contributions by political parties are now $11,175 for statewide candidates; $5,600 for candidates for the state Senate; and $2,800 for candidates for the state House of Representatives.

Contributions to candidates for other offices are limited by the law to 10 times the amount to which individual contributors are limited.

Enforcement of the law had been prevented by a January 1999 preliminary injunction imposed by Federal District Court Judge Catherine D. Perry. The injunction was lifted July 5 when Nixon successfully defended the law in federal district court.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818